Disclaimer: I don't own Orlando Bloom or any living person depicted in the story. They deserve my utmost respect.
--------------------- CHAPTER SIX ---------------------
"Aren't you going to try another wave, OB?" Elijah yelled while running towards the water. Lij didn't wait for an answer. He set the surfboard on the water and started paddling out to sea.
Orlando watched his friend. After a moment, he put his surfboard on the sand and walked up to where Sean was sitting, watching over Alexandra and Zoë. The two little girls were making castles in the sand
As Zoë saw Orlando, she ran towards him, leaping at him with unshakable confidence that he would catch her. Of course, he promptly did.
"Someday you will break your neck, little one," he told her.
"Nope, I will not because you will always catch me. Just as Mamma does. You want to see our castle, Orli? Alexandra says it looks exactly like the one they used in the movie. She played a hobbit girl, she told me, and she had to wear hairy feet. But they will not show the movie she was in until in two years from now and neither she or I will be allowed to go the theater because only older kids are allowed to see it. I think it's better to watch it at home. It isn't so scary when you see the mean orcs fighting Legolas, right Orli? You were not scared when you made the movie, were you? Alexandra said she wasn't but she did not see many orcs or goblins. I hate goblins," prattled Zoë while Orli carried her to see the sandcastle.
"It's a beautiful castle, Miladies, fit for two of the most beautiful princesses Middle-Earth has ever seen. Isn't it so, Samwise?" The girls beamed, and Orli threw a look at Sean, waiting for an answer.
"Indeed it is, Master Elf, indeed. And if Master Legolas is able to guard over the princesses, this humble hobbit might give it a try and catch a wave?" replied Sean, looking hopefully at Orlando.
"I will have to think about it, hobbit ... " began Orli. Then he grinned at Sean, "Go mate. I'll take care of the munchkins."
Sean put on his wetsuit, picked up his board, and ran to the sea.
Orlando sat down where Sean had been sitting before, keeping a watchful eye over the two little girls playing in the sand.
It had been over one week since Verena had allowed him to pick up Zoë from school. V had softened her restrictions a little in that time; and he was able to do whatever he liked, so long as he didn't go out at night.
V had even suggested that he check into the possibility of adding other activities, like taking a course or going to the gym or whatever he wished. As long as he kept a low profile, that was. And "behaved", as she loved to say.
Orlando was sure that the change of attitude somehow involved the fact that Spence had liked him and probably said a good word on his behalf. Or maybe Spence had convinced Verena in a different way.
In his mind's eye, Orli saw the scene again: Verena, enveloped in Spencer's arms, her head on his shoulder, hugging him tenderly. When they'd separated, Verena had seen Orlando standing in the door, and she had smiled. Spencer had given him a wide grin. Then both of them went back to work on photographs and contact sheets and whatever. They'd acted like nothing unusual had happened.
After the incident, Orlando noticed that whenever Spencer was around, Verena was a lot more relaxed and pleasant, always bantering with her assistant.
"Orli? Will Mamma come to the beach too? I know she doesn't surf and she can't build castles, but I want her to meet Alex, because Alex is my bestest friend ever, and I love her very much. Well she is my bestest friend after you, Orli. You are the best of the best!" Zoë had approached him while he was lost in thought, and she was now hugging his neck and giving him a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too, Munchkin," he said. He was getting used of being the object of Zoë's affection. He was getting very attached to her, and didn't want to think how his relationship with her would change when he left V's house and returned to his normal life. He would miss the girl for sure.
"Your Mamma was having a meeting with George and then she said she would come here to drive us home." He frowned a bit at his own words. Or rather, at one word: home. Since when was V's place his home?
************************************
Verena took another sip of the mineral water in front of her and set the glass down silently.
The New Line Cinema people were satisfied over Orlando's public image for the last weeks.
She had explained that Orlando was a serious young man who understood the responsibility he had to support the campaign for the release of the movie and that he had chosen himself to keep a low profile.
Yeah, sure. If she weren't the one breathing on his neck for the last couple of months, she would have believed it herself.
She was still intrigued by him, wondering why he had felt compelled to play the "party boy" role, when he seemed to be such a nice guy. A nice, normal guy, who loved children, made his own bed, helped in the kitchen, and carried the garbage out. Not exactly what she had imagined when she took the job.
"And we are most pleased with the PR-handling of Mr. Bloom so far, Miss Devereaux. We will be having another evaluation meeting in four weeks; is it okay with you?" asked David Shaye, a marketing executive from New Line. His question brought Verena's attention back to the meeting.
"Of course, Mr. Shaye, any time you deem necessary. And may I suggest that Mr. Bloom himself should be present in the next meeting. We are not discussing a five year old's career here, are we?" replied Verena.
The reply got her a curious look from Shaye and the other studio executives, plus a very annoyed gasp from George.
"You are right, Miss Devereaux. But isn't Mr. Bloom's immature and irresponsible behavior the reason why you have been hired to manage his public image?" asked Joe Lynne. Verena sat up and leaned closer to the table, looking straight into Joe Lynne's face.
"Mr. Lynne, I will not be taking care of Mr. Bloom's public relations forever. And it is in the best interest of New Line if Mr. Bloom is able to handle his career on his own, without having to hire a very expensive nanny, don't you agree?" Her civil and subdued tone belied the anger that sparked in her eyes.
"I assure you, Mr. Lynne, Mr. Shaye, that the outcome of this contract will be for the best interest of all involved," intervened George, trying to inject a sense of calm and order.
David Shaye stood up.
"Then all is arranged. Miss Hammond, Miss Devereaux, we will meet in one month. Ladies, a pleasure as always," he said crisply. He leaned forward to shake Verena's hand, and his eyes dipped into the V-neckline of her blouse. He grinned at her and left, the other executives trailing behind him.
George accompanied them out and walked back to the office, closing the door. Then she turned to Verena. Her face was pale; she was shaking.
"What the fuck was that all about Devereaux?" she yelled at Verena.
"Relax, George. And I am sorry if the New Line guys were upset. I was just telling the truth," Verena replied serenely.
"I fucking sell you as the cure to their problems and you make it appear as if the kid didn't need you at all. Are you out of your freaking mind?" George's voice was pitching higher with each word.
"George, get a grip or your vocal chords will burst. The kid is okay at the moment. And he might need a vote of confidence .... " Verena started to say.
"But he doesn't need your vote of confidence, V !!! You are supposed to be all the insurance we need to keep him out of trouble. Don't tell me he charmed his way around you ..." said George.
Verena looked at George. "Nonsense, George. I just think I don't really like the job. That's all."
Georgina sighed loudly. "Good, because Fiona and I agreed that you were perfect for the job... the kid wouldn't be able to get to you. You are a mature woman, a pro, and a mother. Just what we need to keep the brat behaving moderately." She was visibly calmer now.
Verena looked away from her best friend and stared out of the window. So that was the trick. She was the right one because she was a bitchy hag. Maybe she shouldn't tell George that the kid was already getting to her.
The sun was low on the horizon. Another hour or so until dusk. She had to meet Zoë and Orli on the beach.
"I have to go, George. I'll call you. And don't get so easily upset. You will get wrinkles," she said, patting her friend on the back, smiling mischievously at George's horrified face. She walked out of George's office.
"Hey Spence, give me a ride?" she wheedled, walking towards her assistant.
"What, are you pedestrian today? Is OB driving your car?" asked Spencer. He quickly cleared his desk before leaving.
"Yep, the kid has my car. He is at the beach with Chip. Ride?" she repeated, sitting on his desk.
"Anything for you, V," he said.
They left the office together, her hand in the crook of Spence's arm. They chatted like the old friends that they were. Nobody at the office seemed surprised.
****************************
Orlando stretched out in the light of the slowly sinking sun and looked over to where Zoë and Alexandra were playing with a ball.
Lij and Sean were still in the water, and Orlando felt lazy. And strangely calm and at ease. He had the peculiar feeling that he missed something, but he could not put his finger on it.
He heard a car driving up to the spot where he had left the jeep. Looking over, he saw Spencer's own Wrangler Jeep pull up next to Verena's. V gave Spencer a hug and got out of the car. Spencer drove away, and Orlando watched Verena as she took off her high-heeled shoes and her jacket and threw all of it inside of her car. Then she peeled off her stockings, one after the other, and threw them into the car as well. He watched mesmerized as she walked on the sand towards him, barefoot, her suit-skirt riding up her knees, her hair blowing in the light breeze. She looked gorgeous and surreal in the soft golden light of the sunset. She reached the place where he was laying and sat down next to him on the sand.
"Hi, Orlando!! You had a beautiful day out here, didn't you?" she asked him, smiling.
He smiled back. He enjoyed having her around when she was in a good mood.
"It was a great day. Careful, your power-chick outfit will get dirty, V …" he started saying, as if to tease her. He was expecting an annoyed reply.
It didn't come. V looked at him, her eyes squinting at the sun and her smile grew wider. "That's what dry cleaning is for, kid. I am now starting the countdown until Chip finds out her old mother is here," she said.
It took about another couple of minutes for Zoë looked over to where they were sitting. Once she had seen Verena, though, Zoë ran over and threw herself into her mother's arms, knocking Verena over onto the sand. Both rolled sideways, laughing. Orlando observed the likeness, the love, the joy they showed every time they were together. And the warm feeling spreading in him confused him.
Verena enjoyed rolling in the sand with Zoë. She was a physical person who showed her affections by touching, hugging, and caressing those she cared about. That was the main reason why Zoë was so cuddly and loving herself.
When they had enough of rubbing their noses and tickling, Verena stood up; Zoë's legs wrapped around her waist, the child clinging to her like a monkey.
She walked back to where Orlando was sitting and sat next to him again. Her skirt was full of sand, as were her hair and her blouse that had opened further, revealing a glimpse of a white cotton and lace bra. Verena was as carefree as ever.
Orlando dared to look again at V, and the golden sunlight shone through the light material of the blouse, outlining firm, perky breasts. He felt his groin tighten in response. Bloody hell!
"… And then Orli surfed on the wave Mamma, it was amazing, it was as if he was floating, and then he glided to the beach and it was so very great. He promised that he would teach me to surf when I am a lot older. Until then, I will stay on the beach with Alexandra. Do you want to see our castle? Alexandra said it looks like the one in Lord of the Rings. It does look like that, doesn't it Orli?" Zoë was telling her mother and looked to Orlando for confirmation. But Orlando's mind was somewhere else; he was distracted and trying to conceal his predicament. It wasn't easy; he was wearing loose swim trunks.
He forced himself to answer to Zoë, "Well, munchkin, your castle is even prettier than the one we had in the movie. You must show it to your mom."
"I will, Orli. And Mamma has also to meet Alexandra. Are you coming, Mamma?" asked the child, standing up.
"Sure Chip, go head, I will come right away," said Verena, standing up very slowly, stretching like a cat, before rearranging her blouse and her skirt. The motions were beyond suggestive, and Orlando stifled a groan and looked away from Verena. She turned to Orlando and said, "You should dive once again before we leave, Orlando. Cold water might be helpful."
Orlando looked up in surprise to find very amused green eyes looking at him.
She knew! The bloody bitch knew and she had teased him with her last moves.
Verena's grin was wide as she turned and left, walking towards the girls' sandcastle.
Orlando ground his teeth.
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